Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Redock Salmon’

ABSTRACT

A  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Redock Salmon’ characterized by its medium sized blooms with salmon ray-florets and yellow-green disc florets.

Related cultivars: ‘Redock Salmon’ is related to ‘Redock Dark’ (pending Ser. No. 09/910,029) and ‘Redock Orange’ (pending Ser. No. 09/910,030). These varieties are all mutants of the original ‘Redock’ (unpatented).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Redock Salmon’ is a product of a breeding and selection program that had the objective of finding color mutants of ‘Redock’. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant that is a natural occuring sport of a parent chrysanthemum named ‘Redock’ (unpatented). A comparison with parent chrysanthemum ‘Redock’ is also made in this application. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation in September, 1999 by Rob Noodelijk in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout, Holland. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Redock Salmon’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in November, 1999 in Rijsenhout, Holland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing medium sized blooms with salmon ray-florets and yellow-green disc florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the foliage of the cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in April/May in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout, Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. After a long day period of 14 days, the photo-periodic response time in this crop was 47 days. After the long day period to flowering, growth retardants were applied 3 times in an average dose of 2.5 gram/liter water. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with salmon ray-florets and yellow-green disc-florets blooming on the plant for 4 weeks. This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations; however, the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Redock Salmon’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 50 and week 40 of the next year under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation light (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

The difference between ‘Redock’ and its sport ‘Redock Salmon’ is flower color. From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Redock Salmon’ is ‘Redock Orange’. When ‘Redock Salmon’, ‘Redock Orange’ and ‘Redock’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed: The difference of ‘Redock Orange’, ‘Redock Salmon’ and ‘Redock’ is the (1) ray-floret color. The color of ‘Redock Salmon’ is salmon, of ‘Redock Orange’ is orange and of ‘Redock’ is pink. All other characteristics of ‘Redock Orange’, ‘Redock Salmon’ and ‘Redock’ are similar.

From other commercial varieties ‘Salmon Reagan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,769) is the most similar. The differences between ‘Salmon Reagan’ and ‘Redock Salmon’ are (1) Flower form and color. The ray-florets of ‘Redock Salmon’ are more upright, less broad, more pointed and more concave. (2) Vigour. Under the same circumstances the plants of ‘Redock Salmon’ are 20 cm longer. (3) Response time. The response time of ‘Redock Salmon’ is shorter. (4) The disc-floret size of ‘Redock Salmon’ is smaller. (5) Foliage size and color. The foliage of ‘Redock Salmon’ is bigger and more yellow-green.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Redock Salmon’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 edition.

TABLE 1 Botanical Description of CULTIVAR ‘Redock Salmon’ Bud Size Small; cross-section 0.7 cm height 0.9 cm Outside Color Orange 27A Involucral bracts 3 rows, length 8 mm, width 3 mm Involucral bracts among Not present disc-florets Involucral bracts color Green 147B Bloom Type Single Height High Size Medium Fully Expanded 7.0 cm Number of blooms per Average of 14 single stem Seeds Not produced Performance (blooming 4 weeks period) Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum. Color Center of the flower Immature yellow-green 144A (disc-florets) Mature yellow-green 151C Color of upper surface of Orange 29D the majority of the ray-florets Color of the lower surface Yellow-orange 19D of the majority of the ray-florets Tonality from Distance A spray mum with salmon flowers and a yellow-green disc Discoloration to color To color-yellow-orange 19D Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number 26-28 Cross-section Strong concave Longitudinal axis of Reflexing majority Length of corolla tube Short Ray-floret length 3.3 cm Ray-floret width 1.0 cm Ratio length/width Medium Shape of tip Pointed, very occasionally round Disc florets Disc diameter 0.8-1.0 cm Distribution of disc florets Numerous, clearly visible at all stages of flowering Shape Tubular Color Yellow-green 144A Receptacle shape Conical raised Reproductive Organs Stamen (Present in disc Thin 3 mm in length florets only) Stamen color Yellow-green 144B Pollen No pollen present Pollen color Not applicable Thin Styles (present in both ray and disc florets) Style color Yellow-green 144B Style Length 4 mm Stigma color Yellow-green 144B Stigma Width 2 mm Ovaries Enclosed in perianth Plant Form A spray mum meant for erect culture Growth habit Upright Growth rate Very vigorous Height 125-135 cm Width 28 cm Internodes 2.5-3.0 cm Spray formation Corymbiform Stem Color Yellow-green 147B Stem Strength Medium Stem Brittleness Present Stem Anthocyanin Coloration Absent Peduncle length Near the top 16 cm, near the middle 23 cm, near the bottom 28 cm. Peduncle color Green 147B Peduncle, attachment Brittle Peduncle, angle with stem Small, 30° C. Petiole length 2.5-3 cm Petiole color Yellow-green 147D Leaf midvein color Yellow-green 147D Foliage Color Upper side yellow-green 147A Under side green 138B Size large; length 12.0-14.0 cm, width 7.0-8.0 cm Quantity (number per 30-34 single stem) Shape Ovate and deeply lobed Texture upper side Fleshy and glabrous Texture under side Pubescent Ribs and veins Ribs and veins well developed upper side Ribs and veins Ribs and veins well developed under side Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Lobed Shape of Base of Sinus Rounded Between Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Converging Lateral Lobes Apex Mucronate

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison Varieties ‘Redock ‘Redock ‘Salmon Salmon’ ‘Redock’ Orange’ Reagan’ Ray-floret Orange 29 D Purple 75 C Orange 26 B Orange 29 C color Flower height High High High Low Cross-section Strongly Strongly Strongly Flat of ray-floret concave concave concave Vigour Very Very Very Vigorous vigorous vigorous vigorous Plant height 125-135 cm 125-135 cm 125-135 cm 100-125 cm 

1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 